The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jason Robinson is up to his winning ways again. The former Flin Flonner took home three gold medals from the 2004 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games, held last month in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Now a Winnipeg resident, Robinson won gold in the five-, 7.5-, and 10-kilometre classic cross-country ski races at the Games, which took place February 17-22. "I was so happy," the Team Manitoba athlete told the Winnipeg Free Press. This is the latest in a long list of successes for Robinson, who is the proud holder of 34 gold medals from various cross-country ski competitions held over the past 14 years. Now hoping to compete in the next International Special Olympics in Japan, the 27-year-old has previously participated in, among others, the 1998 Paralympics in Japan, the 2000 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Ottawa, and the 2001 Special Olympic World Winter Games in Alaska. In talking to the Free Press, Robinson gave much of the credit for his success to his coach, Al Siemens. "I've learned so much from him and that's part of the reason I won three gold medals," he said. Ruth Betts School principal John Belfry, who years ago introduced Robinson to cross-country skiing, said the athlete is very deserving of his achievements. "He's one of the best athletes I've ever coached out of any activity," said Belfry. "The nicest thing about Jason, I always found, is his dedication and coachability. He would follow training programs that you set out for him. He was excellent to work with and he worked really hard." Robinson's mother, Joanne, agreed that her son's success represents the fruits of his labour. "He's very dedicated to his sport and he works really hard to get what he gets," said Joanne, who calls Flin Flon home. When he isn't competing or keeping himself in shape, Robinson, a Hapnot Collegiate graduate, works in the kitchen at the Viscount Gort hotel.
